Egypt's Minister of Supply and Internal Trade, Dr. Sherif Farouk, has ordered stricter oversight of tourist and western-style bakeries to ensure compliance with set prices and weights. This move aims to protect consumers from irregularities in the market. The minister emphasized that all bakeries must adhere to the guidelines outlined in Ministerial Directive No. 5 of 2026, which regulates the production and circulation of free-style tourist bread and "fino" bread.
Ministerial Directive No. 5 of 2026 sets the maximum price for a 80-gram loaf of free-style tourist bread at two Egyptian pounds, 60-gram loaf at 1.5 pounds, and 40-gram loaf at one pound. For "fino" bread, the directive sets prices at two pounds for a 50-gram loaf, 1.5 pounds for a 40-gram loaf, and one pound for a 30-gram loaf. These measures are designed to standardize bread prices and weights across the country.
The Ministry of Supply and Internal Trade has been conducting campaigns to monitor bakeries and enforce compliance with the directive. Inspectors have been dispatched to various governorates to check on bakeries and take legal action against those found to be violating the regulations. The ministry is committed to ensuring that bakeries adhere to the set prices and weights to prevent consumer exploitation.
Dr. Farouk stressed that his ministry will not tolerate violations related to underweight bread or selling at prices higher than those set. He emphasized that monitoring campaigns will continue in various governorates to maintain order in the bread market and protect consumer rights. The ministry urges bakery owners to comply fully with the directive and display prices clearly.
The Ministry of Supply and Internal Trade has called on citizens to report any irregularities related to bread prices or weights through the unified government complaint system at the Cabinet of Ministers on hotline 16528 or the Consumer Protection Authority hotline 19588. This initiative aims to engage citizens in monitoring and reporting market violations.
The intensified monitoring of tourist and western-style bakeries is part of the government's efforts to regulate the market and protect consumers. By enforcing compliance with set prices and weights, the ministry aims to ensure fairness and transparency in the bread market. This move is expected to have a positive impact on consumers and the baking industry as a whole.
The Egyptian government continues to work towards stabilizing the market and protecting consumer rights. The Ministry of Supply and Internal Trade remains committed to its role in monitoring and regulating the bread market to ensure that consumers receive fair value for their money.
Key points
- The Egyptian Ministry of Supply and Internal Trade has directed authorities to intensify monitoring of tourist and western-style bakeries to ensure compliance with set prices and weights.
- Ministerial Directive No. 5 of 2026 sets specific prices and weights for tourist and "fino" bread to standardize the market.
- The ministry has urged citizens to report any irregularities related to bread prices or weights through designated hotlines.
